After six months under special administration control of Alyawarr Ingkerr-wenh Aboriginal Corporation has been handed back to its members.

Alyawarr Ingkerr-wenh Aboriginal Corporation is based in the Ampilatwatja community in the Northern Territory. Ingkerr-wenh means ‘all together’.

The corporation receives funding from the Aboriginals Benefit Account to provide a range of services to the Alyawarr people—a language group that stretches along the Sandover Highway, about 300 kilometres to the northeast of Alice Springs between Utopia in the west and Alpurrurulam (Lake Nash) in the east.

The directors approached the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Mr Anthony Beven, for help in June 2010 when the corporation was facing financial difficulties. The Registrar appointed Mr Peter McQuoid from PDM Consultancy Pty Ltd as special administrator on 5 July 2010.

‘Working with the directors to ensure the corporation was properly resourced and could govern itself confidently were the two key objectives of the special administration,’ said Mr Beven.

The special administrator secured funding from the Australian Government through the Aboriginals Benefit Account and oversaw the appointment of a new CEO.

‘The Alyawarr are very traditional people with a strong cultural identity. The new CEO, Mr Olaf Geerken, has previously worked with the Alyawarr people and will work closely with the directors to build the corporation’s long-term viability,’ said Mr Beven. ‘I am pleased the corporation has now been handed back to its members in a strong position.’

The directors who sought help from the Registrar have all been reappointed to the board by the special administrator.

The corporation plans to establish a service supplying pastoralists and businesses with stock workers, fencers and labourers.

ORIC will provide corporate governance training in the new year for Alyawarr Ingkerr-wenh’s directors.